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My question was more general. How would a person research this on his own? Without knowing your doctor? I guess if they looked up the hospital's website they may have found this article. Best of luck to you.
Isn't it with any other medical issue?
You talk to your PCP, and he/she recommends a specialist thye know. You talk to that specialist. And you do research on your own.
In NJ, I have seen magazines with their lists of "Best Doctors". That's another place to start.
You talk to alot of people.
That's how I would do it.
This is a battle where one must be your own advocate.
It doesn't hurt to talk to the doctors at the top hospitals in the area.
We are lucky we have more choices than other parts of the country.
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. It’s a difficult and confusing time and I’m sure you are feeling a range of emotions. Each year around 35,000 individuals are diagnosed with a tumor that originates in the brain.
Generally speaking, you will want to select a Neurosurgeon that you and your family feels comfortable with, and a hospital that can provide you with the most treatment options.
Dr. Steven Brem, a Penn Neurosurgeon specializes in brain tumors. He sees patients at Hospital of University of Pennsylvania and leads the Penn Brain Tumor Center, which delivers a collaborative team approach to providing advanced therapy for benign brain tumors (as well as malignant tumors and metastatic cancer that spreads to the brain). The entire Penn Brain Tumor Team provides a circle of exceptional care for brain tumor patients and their families – offering counseling and support throughout the entire process.
Dr. Brem has performed more than 3,600 brain tumor surgeries and participated in more than 100 clinical trials. He received the 2012 Joel A. Gingras, Jr. award from the American Brain Tumor Association for his advancement in the understanding and treatment of brain tumors.
To learn more about Dr. Brem, or to speak with a Penn nurse to talk about the next steps in your treatment, please follow this link:
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. It’s a difficult and confusing time and I’m sure you are feeling a range of emotions. Each year around 35,000 individuals are diagnosed with a tumor that originates in the brain.
Generally speaking, you will want to select a Neurosurgeon that you and your family feels comfortable with, and a hospital that can provide you with the most treatment options.
Dr. Steven Brem, a Penn Neurosurgeon specializes in brain tumors. He sees patients at Hospital of University of Pennsylvania and leads the Penn Brain Tumor Center, which delivers a collaborative team approach to providing advanced therapy for benign brain tumors (as well as malignant tumors and metastatic cancer that spreads to the brain). The entire Penn Brain Tumor Team provides a circle of exceptional care for brain tumor patients and their families – offering counseling and support throughout the entire process.
Dr. Brem has performed more than 3,600 brain tumor surgeries and participated in more than 100 clinical trials. He received the 2012 Joel A. Gingras, Jr. award from the American Brain Tumor Association for his advancement in the understanding and treatment of brain tumors.
To learn more about Dr. Brem, or to speak with a Penn nurse to talk about the next steps in your treatment, please follow this link:
Isn't it with any other medical issue?
You talk to your PCP, and he/she recommends a specialist thye know. You talk to that specialist. And you do research on your own.
In NJ, I have seen magazines with their lists of "Best Doctors". That's another place to start.
You talk to alot of people.
That's how I would do it.
This is a battle where one must be your own advocate.
It doesn't hurt to talk to the doctors at the top hospitals in the area.
We are lucky we have more choices than other parts of the country.
Well, I am not an HMO member. I don't have to talk to a primary care guy. If I feel that I have a problem that requires the services of a specialist I just go to one. No middleman. I don't go to a doctor who is 'in the system'. That's nice, but the downside(or upside) is that you research that person on your own. One doctor will often recommend a buddy or someone affiliated with his hospital and the recommendation of friends is coming from no real expertise on their part. To me, these recommendations can be 'iffy'.
I still think the best hospitals attract the best doctors, on the whole, and that is the place where I'd start. Not that you're wrong, but it's just not how I would prefer going about it.
My dad had the same health problem back in the 90s and early 2000s. Three different surgeries and one dose of radiation. He's alive and well and it's all thanks to Columbia Presbyterian in NYC. They were excellent. Good luck and definitely check them out.
Highly recommend the Summit Medical Group in Berkeley Heights. They have top notch doctors and if they don't have a doctor on staff that handles your specific condition they will refer you to someone. We have been going to them for 17 years and credit them with saving my life when I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins. People come from Europe to SMG as they like the fact that everything is in one location.
Personally, if time is not of the essence, I would consult with several different doctors that come recommended and then choose the one YOU feel most comfortable with. You will have to find someone you can trust and work with as there will surely be some serious decisions you will have to make in the future. Also remember that bedside manner is not usually a great surgeon's strong point but you do need someone who can communicate with you in a way so you understand what's going on and what your treatment choices/risks are so you can make educated decisions about your treatment together.
As someone stated earlier, a benign tumor in the brain can be just as bad as a malignant one, depending on location and growth rate.
I wish you well - you've been having a tough year. Hang in there.
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